Wrestling Observer Newsletter November 29, 1993
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Wrestling Observer Newsletter November 29, 1993 MCMAHON, TITAN FACE STEROID INDICTMENTS LAWLER EXPECTS TO BE CLEARED OF ALL CHARGES THE CHARGES AGAINST VINCE MCMAHON March 1988 and October 1989, McMahon and Titan Sports distributed and caused to be distributed the steroid Nandrolone Decanoate (better *Conspiracy to distribute anabolic steroids and to defraud the United known as Decadurabolin or "Deca" for short) to a WWF performer known States Food and Drug Administration (during the period from 1985 to to the Grand Jury whose name wasn't listed in the indictment. There is February, 1991) widespread belief within the wrestling industry of who the performer is, and his name was in at least one major media report originally before *Maximum penalty: Five years in prison lawyers for that media service took the name out. If the performer in question is one believed to be within the industry, it would contradict many *Illegal possession of anabolic steroids with intent to distribute (October public statements that performer has made in the past in regard to his 24, 1989) involvement with the drugs. *Maximum penalty: Three years in prison McMahon, who after the indictment acknowledged sharing steroids with a friend, but admitted to committing no crimes, contradicted an interview in *Maximum personal fines against Vince McMahon for both charges: the Boston Herald a few days before the indictment, when he addressed $500,000 the potential of a charge for dispensing steroids. AGAINST TITAN SPORTS "Of all the things that have been rumored, the vicious rumors and the lies that have been said about me and this company, no one's ever said that *Conspiracy to distribute anabolic steroids and to defraud the United before. Not one wrestler or anyone. So if I had ever given anyone States Food and Drug Administration (during the period from 1985 to steroids, distributed steroids or anything along those lines, that would February, 1991) have been one of the very first things that someone could have said, `Yes, he did it to me.'" *Maximum fine: $500,000 McMahon, whose age was listed in all published reports as 47, but is *Illegal possession of anabolic steroids with intent to distribute (October believed to really have turned 48 in August, had, in a July 1991 press 24, 1989) conference in the wake of the Zahorian trial where the first announcement was made that Titan would steroid test its wrestlers, and in more than one *Maximum fine: $500,000 statement to the this publication in 1991 and early 1992 admitted personal use of Decadurabolin acquired from Dr. Zahorian but categorized the *Additional maximum penalty against Titan Sports for one or both counts: extent of his use as briefly experimenting in 1987. Forfeiture of the land, office building, and everything in it located at 1241 East Main Street in Stamford, CT (aka Titan Towers). Estimated value of On the WWF's Saturday night radio show, Jim Ross early in the show office building: $9.5 million listed the charges against McMahon, read the company's prepared statement and then largely dropped the subject for the remainder of the In what could be prove to be a landmark steroid case, both Titan Sports first hour. During the opening of the second hour, Ross complained that owner Vince McMahon and his company were indicted on two counts the government should have had better things to do and that both apiece of steroid law violations. McMahon and the WWF claim the allegations are groundless and plan to contest these allegations. The case is believed to mark the first attempt by the U.S. government in enforcing its steroid laws to charge the owner or a key management figure However, the pleas hardly make a May trial date a certainty. At this point of a sports organization, and the organization itself, which allegedly business negotiations will take place (ie plea bargaining). There are many benefitted financially from its athletes usage of steroids as conspirators for who believe a trial, win or lose, would prove devastating for the McMahon that use. Empire because it would require numerous wrestlers to testify to their own use of steroids including the possibility or most of the company's top McMahon, in denying the conspiracy charges, claimed the charge was an drawing cards from its heyday. The name Hulk Hogan becomes a key attempt to make him responsible for the actions of Dr. George Zahorian factor. The Zahorian trial suddenly became front page news in USA Today III, the Harrisburg, PA osteopath who was convicted of 12 counts of and was scheduled to be covered as significant news in many mainstream illegally dispensing steroids and other controlled substances in a well- media outlets when it was believed Hogan would be testifying. When publicized 1991 trial. Zahorian, who is currently serving a three-year Hogan's subpoena was quashed, the story took on far less significance sentence, was believed to have been the main and most well-known initially, although not in the long-run. If Hogan were to be called on to supplier of steroids, but was not the only supplier, to WWF wrestlers from testify in a trial with McMahon on the subject of steroids, it would become the early 1980s through his 1991 arrest. The indictment named Zahorian, a huge media event. as well as others who weren't named, as unindicted co-conspirators. McMahon is going to continue as lead television announcer and in his McMahon and Titan Sports were arraigned Tuesday morning, 11/23 in CEO capacity with Titan Sports in the wake of the indictments. Brooklyn. McMahon plead "not guilty" on all charges and was released on $250,000 bond before U.S. District Court Judge Jacob Mishler. A May 2, "The government does not allege that I or my company have done 1994 trial date was set. At the arraignment McMahon refused to answer anything wrong since the use of steroids became illegal nearly three years any media questions on the advice of his attorney but called the entire ago," McMahon said in a story that ran Thursday night on the AP wire. proceedings "unfair." "The World Wrestling Federation does not condone or tolerate the use of steroids." In a statement issued through his lawyers, McMahon claimed the government's prosecutors "are now trying to make me responsible for The question of legality of steroids has been misinterpreted by media and what the doctor (Zahorian) did. I did no such thing." misrepresented in statements by many leading wrestling personalities since media scrutiny and controversy regarding the drug being abused by In a statement released to the press, McMahon said, "To turn my personal wrestlers started in the wake of the Zahorian trial. use into a crime, they claim I shared some of those steroids with a friend and that somehow made me a dealer." Since this is a federal case, various state laws regarding use or distribution of the drug aren't applicable to these indictments. Statements The indictments, which resulted from an at least 20-month long Justice made by many wrestling personalities regarding steroids themselves Department investigation of McMahon and his company, never alleged being legal during certain periods was often not the case even before McMahon sold steroids, but that on several occasions around or between changes in federal law because of state laws in many instances. government seizing the entire team from the owner and putting it up for Simply put, steroids in an of themselves have never been a "legal drug" auction. during any of this period except for specifically specified instances. Prior to 1988, dispensing steroids was under the jurisdiction of the FDA (Food The indictment claimed the object of the conspiracy was "unlawfully to and Drug Administration). Dispensing steroids was only legal before 1988 provide WWF wrestling performers with steroids to enhance their size and under one condition, when use was supervised by a licensed medical musculature, and thereby to increase the ticket sales for WWF exhibition practitioner acting within a legitimate doctor-patient relationship. During and the profits to Titan and McMahon." the Zahorian trail, one of the government's key points against Zahorian was that his manner of dispensing steroids did not fall within that Titan Sports' involvement in the distribution indictment was caused by the framework. allegation within the indictment that on several occasions between March of 1988 and October of 1989, McMahon ordered and caused to be In November, 1988, after a congressional hearing, because it was felt ordered Nandrolone Decanoate from Zahorian, and the indictment claims, doctors were abusing that specific instance and acting unethically in in order to evade the detection of these transactions, McMahon utilized writing prescriptions and dispensing steroids to healthy athletes, the drugs Titan funds or resources to cause the purchase of bank checks used to were placed under the jurisdiction of the DEA (Drug Enforcement pay Zahorian for the shipments, which were then distributed to both Administration). The law was tightened up at this point to only allow McMahon and the unnamed WWF performer. steroids to be dispensed or to be possessed with intent to distribute for the specific purpose of treatment of disease in human beings. Any other type By virtue of the Drug Forfeiture Act, the government, upon a conviction of of dispensing or distribution was considered a felony. Titan Sports on either of the counts, is attempting to seize Titan Towers, because it is alleged that office property was used or intended to have In early 1991, another law was enacted making it a felony for any kind of been used to commit or facilitate the violations.